Harvard Targeted in U.S. Asian-American Discrimination Probe

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>OK, well, I will address the relationship of standardized test scores and doctor performance alone. I have read a study showing a strong inverse correlation between standardized test scores and malpractice suits. I don’t remember if they were the board scores (taken after two years of medical school) or the MCATs. I also read in a different study that doctors who chat up their patients were actually less effective. Again, SATs are not as predictive of MCAT/board scores, tough they might be if you included the SATIIs.</p>

<p>There are other arguments for the AA that are still valid even if the above is true; for one, presumably, those disadvantaged may have greater gains in college than those well-educated in high school. However, I was addressing the specific point alone about the relationship between standardized test scores and performance as a doctor.</p>

<p>I hardly think my point is bizarre enough to warrant ridicule, but if Dwight_Eisenhower and others want to further explain their position, they are welcome to do so.</p>

<p>Frankly, among the variety of jobs out there, I think ability as a heart surgeon would be among the most related to academic ability. CEO, salesman, politician, and many other jobs require more people skills I think to be successful.</p>

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<p>I think we all need to watch some Grey’s Anatomy.</p>

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<p>"I also read in a different study that doctors who chat up their patients were actually less effective. "</p>

<p>It is almost impossible for someone to quantify bedside manner vs being a good doctor. If this were true, taking it to the extreme, we should only have jerks becoming doctors.</p>

<p>Here is the first paragraph in the announcement for new MCAT.</p>

<p>"Starting in 2015, when aspiring doctors take the MCAT® examination, they will need more than a solid basis in the natural sciences. Under changes approved today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), they also will need an understanding of the psychology, sociology, and biology that provide the foundation for learning about the human and social components of health. "</p>

<p>Why would they need most of this if bedside manner is irrelevant?</p>

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<p>^According to the article (and I’m the one who posted it, btw,) it is because the public complained that although they had confidence in their medical acumen, doctors didn’t have the best bedside manner. There was no suggestion that bedside manner actually affected the medical outcome of the patient. </p>

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<p>Is not engaging in a lot of smalltalk the same as being a jerk?</p>

<p>And is a multiple-choice test going to be a good measure of empathy? I thought that was the point of the interview.</p>

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<p>Good lord, collegealum, your writing borders on incomprehensible.</p>

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<p>“Is not engaging in a lot of smalltalk the same as being a jerk?” </p>

<p>In a lot of cases, yes but in reality it is bad doctoring. If they are not talking to the patient, then they have no idea what clues they are missing.</p>

<p>Multiple choice test has no bearing and interviews have even less bearing on how one treats a patient or how a patient wants to be treated.</p>

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<p>This was badly written. Let me rephrase it. The article says that the public has confidence in the medical knowledge of their doctors. However, the public is unhappy with the bedside manner of their doctors. This was the only reason given in the article for the change in the MCAT.</p>

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<p>Just found this article that says the Asian-American student withdrew the complaints filed with OCR regarding both Harvard and Princeton. [Asian-American</a> Student Withdraws Bias Complaint Against Harvard](<a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/17/bloomberg_articlesLZJZCA0UQVI901-LZK1Q.DTL]Asian-American”>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/17/bloomberg_articlesLZJZCA0UQVI901-LZK1Q.DTL)</p>

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<p>The Harvard Crimson reports that the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights inquiry into Harvard’s admission practices has ended, </p>

<p>[U.S&lt;/a&gt;. Department of Education Ends Inquiry into Harvard Admissions | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/2/17/admissions-department-education-withdrawn/]U.S”>U.S. Department of Education Ends Inquiry into Harvard Admissions | News | The Harvard Crimson) </p>

<p>but the inquiry at Princeton continues.</p>

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<p>That particular case is dropped (for now), but the issue/problem remains unresolved…</p>

<p>BTW, has anyone noticed the following news? And, any thoughts/comments?</p>

<p>Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Affirmative Action Case</p>

<p>The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a major case on affirmative action in higher education, adding another potential blockbuster to a docket already studded with them.</p>

<p>The court’s decision in the new case holds the potential to undo an accommodation reached in the Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 decision in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger: that public colleges and universities could not use a point system to boost minority enrollment but could take race into account in vaguer way to ensure academic diversity.</p>

<p>Read More:
<a href=“Supreme Court to Hear Affirmative Action Case - The New York Times”>Supreme Court to Hear Affirmative Action Case - The New York Times;

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<p>The practical impact of the court ruling will be very limited no matter who wins the Supreme Court case. The situation at UC system should be a good indicator about how quickly the Adcom can adapt to the court ruling and devise measures to reach the same demographic goal if they really want to do it.</p>